Electric-railway system



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ELECTRIC RAILWAY SYSTEM.

Patented Aug. 14, 1894.-

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ry Wzcox UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE;

THEODORE B. WILOOX AND HENRY WILOOX, OF NEWARK, JERSEY.

ELECTRIC-RA! L WAY SY STEM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 524,366, dated August14, 1894.

Application filed August 1,1893. SerlalNoASZfl'Yi- (No model) To allwhom, it may concern:

Be it known that we, THEODORE B. WILoox and HENRY WILCOX, citizens ofthe United States, residing at Newark, in the county of Essex and Stateof New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inElectric-Railway Systems; and we do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will onable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and usethe same.

In an application filed on the 16th day of August, 1892, and renewed onthe 1st day of August, 1893, the serialv number of which application is482,098, we have described a system of railroading through the medium ofelectricity, in which we provide a series of electro-magnetic devices,carried by the m0- :tor car, and so supported as to be capable of beingbrought successively into contact with a series of plates along theroad-bed. In the application referred to, we say that we prefer to useon every car three magnets, inclosed in suitable boxes, the wholemagnet-box structure being easily replaceable, so that if one gets outof order another can be quickly substituted. The magnets andmagnet-boxes are the magnet, on reaching carried upon an endlesssprocket chain, one part of which is stretched along under the car nearthe surface plate. The chain rotates freely, being mounted loosely onpivoted sprocket wheels, one at each end of the car. The magnet-boxesare so spaced as to be just as far apart along the length of thesprocket chain as the surface plates are distant from each other.Consequently, if one magnet with its box is brought into contact withone of the surface plates, then the next magnet will, in

its turn, make contact with the next plate, and so on. It is, of course,understood that a new plate, is charged, and attracted to the saidplate, at the same time that the magnet which has preceded it,isde-energized and released. The

action of the charged magnet upon the surface of the plate is to attracta movable magnetic piece within the said plate, and thus create anelectric contact, and form a new path for the electric current, in a waywhich will be fully understood, without specific description.

The present application is concerned with Figure 1, is a verticalsection of the surface" plate. Fig. 2, is a plan of the same. Fig. 3 isa detail view of a permanent magnet or loadstone, which may be employedfor bringing the magnetic circuit-controller into operation, and Fig. 4is a view of one of the surfaceplates in contact with a magnet on a car.

Designating the different parts of the apparatus by indicatingcharacters, 1, is an insulated wire, constituting the main circuit ofthe railway system above referred to, and 2, is an insulated branchwire, running to the surface plate in a manner which will presently beexplained. The main body of the structure which we call the surfaceplate is a frame or standard, 3, consisting of a metallic casting with acylindrical opening in it. Within this opening is placed an insulatingbox, 4, of vulcabeston, or other good insulating material, shaped to fitthe opening, and also to cover the top of the rim around the edge of thecasting, 3.

The branch wire, 2, is led, as shown in the drawings, into a groove orgutter, 5, in the casting, 3, and is there attached by a loopconnectiomto an insulated pin, 6, to which is also joined an insulatedwire, 7, extending from the box, 4. The wire, 7, runs to the bottom of asecond insulating box, 8, within the box, 4, and is joined to a nut, 9,which is attached to the lower end of a bolt, 10. The

said bolt passes through the bottom of the box, 8, and is there joinedto a wire, 11, the other end of which is connected with a nutbolt, 12.The latter, as well as the bolt 10, is preferably formed of aluminiumbronze, so as to form a good electrical conductor. The belt, 12, enters,or is formed in one piece with, a head, 13, the entire structure beingsecured within, but insulated from, a movable iron contact, 14. Itshould be stated that the wire, 11, is formed into a take-up coil, toadmit of sufficient play for the contact," 14, and that it passesthrough a hollow cylinder, 15, of soft rubber, which takes up the shock'when the contact, 14, is dropped.

In the top of the box, 8, is an iron piece, 16, closely adjoining apiece of iron, 17, which projects upward and at the top forms thesurface plate proper, which is exposed above the pavement between therails of the railway track. Within the face of the plate, above thesurface of the street, appears the enlarged end, 18, of a rod, 19, ofaluminium bronze, which passes through both the iron piece, 17, and theiron piece, 16, with interposed insulating material, causing anelectrical separa tion. Outside the iron piece, 17, is a casting ofiron, 20, which forms a cap for the whole surface structure, and isjoined to the casting, 9, through the rim of the box, 4, bya flangedoint. At 21, we show insulating material for isolating the part, 17,from the cap.

It Will be observed that the box, 8, is supported within the box, 4, bysuitable legs or standards, 22, 22. The chamber between the said boxesis an oil reservoir, the object of having the oil being to insulate thecontact parts as thoroughly as possible, and prevent injurious leakage.

It will be observed that when the iron block or plate, 14, is liftedunder the influence of magnetic action exerted directly through theparts, 17; and 16, contact is made between two surfaces of aluminiumbronze, so as to make as good electrical connection as possible. Thewhole structure may be regarded as a magnetic contact maker, or, morebroadly still, a magnetic circuit controller.

For the sake of combining all the elements needed in a circuit closer ofthis sort, we have shown in Fig. 3, a loadstone or permanent magnet, 23,which may be used for bringing the magnetic circuit controller intooperation. In practice, the original magnetism is much more likely to befurnished by an electromagnet 23 on the car, after the manner set forthin another application of ours, filed on the 16th day of August, 1892,renewed on the 1st day of August, 1893, and having the Scrial No.482,098.

What we claim is- 1. A surface plate for electric railways, providedwith a box in which a magnetic contact maker is adapted toreciprocate,in combination with a magnet, operating outside the plate,for causing the reciprocation of the said contact-maker, the exposedportion of said plate consisting of parts made respectively of magneticand of non-magnetic material insulated from each other, as and for v thepurpose described.

2. In an electric railway system, a surface plate adapted to be chargedby an independ ent magnet, a main wire leading to the said plate, andconnected by a branch to a movable magnetic contact maker within thesaid plate, one or more magnets, carried by a motor car, for actuatingthe said contact maker, and charging the said surface plate, the exposedportion of said plate consisting of parts made respectively of magneticand of nonmagnetic material insulated from each other, as and for thepurpose set forth.

3. In an electrical railway system, a series of surface plates arrangedalong the track, a main conductor, having branches running to movablemagnetic contact makers within successive plates, in combination with amotor car carrying one or more magnets for actuating the said contactmakers, the exposed portion of each of said surface plates consisting ofparts made respectively of magnetic and of non-magnetic materialinsulated from each other, as and for the purpose set forth. v 4. Asurface plate for electric railways, consisting of a casting having acylindrical opening, and an insulating box fitting into the saidopening, and secured by a cap to the said casting, in combination withan inner insulating box containing a reciprocating magnetic contactmaker, and a cooperating contact terminal secured within the cap, butinsulated therefrom, as and for the purpose set forth.

5. A surface plate for electric railways, in which is a box containingtwo terminals of a magnetic contact maker, the said box being supportedwithin a larger box, and the intervening space being filled with 'oil,incombination with a take-up coil of iron, joined to the movable part ofthe magnetic contact maker, the said take-up coil being joined to abinding nut outside the inner box by an oil and watertight connection,as and for the purpose set forth.

6. In a surface plate for electric railways,

a suitable box or casting, forming the stand-- ard or support for theplate, a cap for the said casting, connected thereto by aflanged joint,in combination with a main conductor, and a branch leading to circuitconnections within the said casting, whereby new connections

